The American Craftsmen Show

Thursday, October 29, 2015

In the Connecticut workshop of Shaari Horowitz, traditional craft is reinterpreted and transformed into a contemporary art form. Intricate hand-painted patterns derived from old-world color palettes surround the gilded and glazed surfaces of our hand-hewn & turned wood bowls. Each piece carries an original design based on classical sources with roots in medieval manuscripts, ancient textiles and the frescoes of Pompeii. These bowls serve as both functional and decorative works of art. This is Shaari’s first year participating in American Craftsmen Show. Shaari Horowitz is from Sharon, Connecticut. She is a member of the Early American Folk Arts & Trades Facebook group.

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Sandra Malamed translates stories from history into unique appliqué quilts. Sandy Malamed seeks to create naïve works representing the everyday lives of simple people in late 17th and early 18th century America. Her goal is to produce work with great visual impact while employing the simplest, traditional methods and period appropriate design motifs. These narrative quilts are hand appliquéd, hand embroidered, and hand quilted without the employment of glues or adhesives. Antique homespun linen bed sheets are used as the background of many quilts, which contain their own history. The wear, tears, and stains of use in this fabric add real life and history to the narratives. Her work represents a period in time when cotton fabrics were just beginning to be produced in America, school

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Steve Earp is inspired by the clarity and beauty of traditional ceramic art from the 17th to 19th centuries. His intention is not to make exact copies of original artifacts, but to interpret, promote, and enjoy the formal and decorative possibilities of these fascinating historical styles. Stephen Earp is from Shelburne, Massachusetts and is included in Early American Life Magazine’s Traditional American Crafts Directory Listing of artists. He is also a member of the Early American Folk Arts & Trades Facebook group.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Rob LeHay creates boxes and carriers in the Shaker tradition using lumber milled on site. His materials are either produced on his property or come from small, American businesses. The boxes and carriers are finished using all natural products including milk paint, dyes, oils and waxes. The boxes are fastened with copper tacks which have been produced on original tack-making machines from the 1880s. The tacks are then darkened to provide an aged finish. Every part of the box is completed individually by his own hands.

Pam Dalton creates original designs (Scherenschnitte) influenced by popular historical themes such as patriotism, biblical and religious motifs and scenes from rural life. Each piece is sketched freehand and then cut by hand, from a single piece of paper. The finished piece is placed in a false grain frame.

Pam Dalton is from Ghent, New York. She is a member of the Early American Folk Arts & Trades Facebook group

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Wouldn't you want to win one of these lovely American Craftsmen Show door prizes (see below): redware by artisans Greg and Mary Shooner or a whimsical fiber art design by artisan Jeannine Happe. To be eligible to win a door prize you must add your name to the mailing list when you attend the American Craftsmen Show on November 7th. The American Craftsmen Show is at located at the Ridgefield Community Center at Lounsbury House. See you soon!

Larry Koosed, along with his wife Paige, has been carving for 40 years. Starting by reproducing early American folk carvings, Larry Koosed has transitioned into creating only originals, based on those traditional designs. All his work is completely hand carved and painted. Larry Koosed is from Perrysburg, Ohio is included in Early American Life Magazine’s Traditional American Crafts Directory Listing of artists.

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Paige
Koosed has been painting and woodcarving for 40 years. With her technique
of putting color and then muting it, she captures a depth and texture that is
reminiscent of older paintings. Paige Koosed is from Perrysburg, Ohio. She is a member of the Early American Folk Arts & Trades Facebook group

Monday, October 19, 2015

Walt Fleming has been a tinsmith for over 30 years working in his mid-1840's
tin shop. His specialty is rare early lighting, pierced lanterns, closet
safe panels, whale oil, candle and folk art. Most of his work is done
with 100+ year old tinplate and replacing missing/broken parts on early
tinware/lighting pieces so it is very difficult to detect the repairs.
Walt Fleming is extremely proud of his service in the United States Marine
Corps.

Mo and Kelly Dallas translate their love for Noah's Arks into works of art. From classic to whimsical, each one is a true original. Their attention to detail and wide range of designs make the Dallas' Arks appealing to everyone.

Kelly Dallas is a member of the Early American Folk Arts & Trades Facebook group.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Can you guess which William and Mary College building is portrayed in this applique quilt by American Craftsmen Show artisan Sandy Malamed? If not, you will have to ask her when you come to the American Craftsmen Show on November 7th at the Ridgefield Community Center at Lounsbury House. You will have a chance to win this beauty as a door prize if you sign up on the American Craftsmen Show mailing list. See you there!

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Floorcloths are a part of our American heritage. George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson had them. The floorcloth designs of Michele Hollick are based on floors that were stenciled in New England and New York. Early floorcloth patterns are geometrics (like a diamond) or nautical themes like a mariners compass. Some of her designs also come from Moses Eaton’s wall stencils. Every step of a floorcloth is done by hand, in our backyard barn, and no two are exactly alike. Michele Hollick is from Hollis, New Hampshire. She is a member of the Early American Folk Arts & Trades Facebook group.

Don't forget to join the American Craftsmen Show mailing list when you attend come to show on November 7th and 8th. Seventeen American Craftsmen Show artisans have donated original works of art that will be given away as door prizes throughout the Show to Show attendees that have been added to this mailing list.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Marlene Coble is a traditional painter. Her work consists of painting on furniture and accessories as well as painting on paper and canvas. She considers the dimensional forms the “canvas” for her creative expressions. Marlene Coble works in oil, watercolor and acrylic. Her subjects are broad, ranging from birds, animals and flowers to whimsical circus themes. Marlene Coble is from Wabash, Indiana. She is a member of the Early American Folk Art & Trades Facebook group.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Leonard Marschark handcrafts tall case clocks of uncompromising quality. Finely figured woods and traditional joinery are the hallmark of these accurately recreated clocks with the magnificent look of 18th century originals. A custom painted dial and expertly crafted brass movement completes each masterpiece. Made one at a time, each heirloom treasure is numbered and signed with only a limited number created each year. Leonard Marschark is from Bedminster, Pennsylvania and is included in Early American Life Magazine’s Traditional American Crafts Directory Listing of artists.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Kathleen McDonald has been creating chalkware Santa's and other Holiday figurines for more than ten years. Each piece is individually hand-cast using one of Kathy's antique chocolate molds. Once released from the molds, the figurines are then hand-painted and detailed. Some pieces are trimmed with embellishments such as goose feather sprigs (which represent Christmas trees) or German glass glitter, vintage tinsel, antique lace and vintage millinery flowers. Kathleen McDonald is from Woodbury, Connecticut and is included is Early American Life Magazine’s Traditional American Crafts Directory Listing of artists. She is a member of the Early American Folk Arts & Trades Facebook group

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Karen Worthington is a self-taught fiber artist residing in Warren County, New Jersey. She hand-dyes wool for both her hooked rugs as well as her felted animals. Karen creates one-of-a-kind designs both in her hand-hooked rugs and her needle-felted animals.

Karen Worthington is from Harmony, New Jersey and is included in Early American Life Magazine’s Traditional American Crafts Directory Listing of artists. She is a member of the Early American Folk Arts & Trades Facebook group.

Monday, October 5, 2015

Karen Hill is an American designer who has created one-of-a-kind and limited edition pieces of jewelry since 1987. In late 1989, she began to explore lampworked glass bead making. Karen Hill was attracted to using glass in her designs because of its beauty and the enduring quality of the material. Karen’s interest in the antiquities sparked her desire to make glass beads. As luck would have it, Karen’s husband Jim Hill, who is a geochemist, was able to experiment and helped Karen Hill to rediscover the ancient techniques of glass bead making, with a few unique twists of his own. Linda Hill is from Riderwood, Maryland.